They brought out processions, formed human chains and held rallies, reiterating the demand for punishment to persons responsible for the attack on media men in Kushtia last month and in Chittagong earlier by law enforcers.

They expressed concern as trial of none of the journalist murder cases has been completed. This encouraged criminals and ruling party musclemen to attack newsmen in different areas of the country.

Journalists also observed a two-hour work abstention programme to press the demand for an end to such violence and trial of the culprits, according to reports by our correspondents.

In Rajshahi, the Rajshahi Union of Journalist and Sangbadpatra Karmachari Oikkya Parishad yesterday jointly took out a procession in the city and held a rally at Shaheeb Bazer zero point protesting the attack in Kushtia by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) cadres in which 20 journalists including Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury were injured.

The processionists chanted slogans against repression on journalists.

At the protest meeting held at the zero point, speakers condemned the attack in Kushtia by cadres of ruling party lawmaker Shahidul and called upon media men to unite to resist such acts.

They also expressed grave concern over attacks on journalists by law enforcers and urged the government and the police administration to ensure security of journalists.

They also demanded trail of the killers of journalists Gautam, Diponkor, Humayun Kabir Balu, Khokon, Belal, Shamsur Rahman and Manik Saha.

Unity of all professionals is necessary to resist killings and repression, they said.

The rally was addressed by, among others, Rajshahi Metropolitan Press Club General Secretary Annisuzzman, Rajshahi Photojournalist Association General Secretary Jabid Apu, Shafiqul Islam, Tanjumul Haque, and Mahtab Chowdury and Abul Baser.

In Rangpur, journalists' organisations yesterday observed a series of programmes condemning the attack in Kushtia and other acts of repression elsewhere earlier.

Members of Rangpur Press Club formed a human chain on the Station Road demanding punishment to the culprits.

Rangpur Reporters Club also formed a human chain and observed a 'token' road barricade programme. They barricaded the road at Court Square for 10 minutes from 12:30 p.m, which was followed by a rally there.

Local political leaders and elite also addressed the rally, bitterly criticising the attack in Kushtia and governments' inaction in bringing ruling party activists there to book.

In Jesspoe, journalists held a rally on the premises of Jessore Press Club and brought out a procession in the town.

The two journalists' unions in Jessore jointly organised the rally, chaired by Mohidul Islam Montu.

Similar protest programmes were also observed in other divisional and district headquarters across the country.